Clock



l. DINSTMAN July 24, 1934.

CLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 14. 1931 w 6Q .M

(w a W lNVENTOR lsidor 2 ATTZNEYS Patented July 24, 1934 CLOCK IsidorDinstman, Bronx, Specialty Corporation, poration of New York N. Y.,assignor to Yorke New York, N. Y., a cor- Application November 14, 1931,Serial No. 574,934

16 Claims.

This invention relates to clocks, and more particularly to a novel formand construction of clock case.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision ofa novel form of clock case constructed'part'ially of moldablecomposition material and partially ofmetal, the composition beingobtainable in a variety of colors and finishes and showing up in sharpcontrast with the metal parts of the case.

Other objects of the present invention are to devise a particularlyadvantageous mechanical assemblage of the parts of the clock case,resulting in a strong and rugged case made of a relatively' few simpleparts which may be assembled readily and rapidly under productionconditions, so that the finished clock, although exceptionally rich andexpensive-looking in appearance, may be marketed at an exceedinglyreasonable cost.

Other and more detailed objects of the present invention center aboutthe mounting of the movement of the clock within the case, and result ina unitary and permanent assemblage of dial, movement, and back plate,the parts of which are standardized and interchangeable and so arrangedthat when the back plate is secured to the backof the clock .case, thedial is accurately located and supported by the back plate in properrelation to the open frame at the front of the case. Further objects areto so mount the dial on the clock movement that no securing means willbe visible on the face of the dial, and at the same time to provide thenecessary additional parts for attaining this result without appreciableextra cost for material, such parts being made from waste metalobtained'when manufacturing other parts of the clock case. Still anotherobject of the invention is to make the clockcase' perfectly dust-proof,so that the clock movement may be run indefinitely without attention orcleaning.

Further features of the invention center about the manufacture of thecomposition portions of the clock case, and make possible rapidproduction of accurately dimensioned and highly finished and polishedparts at a relatively low cost; Still another object of the. presentinvention is to so design the mechanical features and mode of assemblyof the clock case as to make possible changes in design and appearanceof the clock case without material or important-alteration in themechanical features thereof.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, my invention resides in the clock and clock caseelementsand their relation one'to the other as hereinafter are moreparticularly described in the 'specification and sought to be defined inthe claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which: I

Fig. l is a front elevation of one form of clock embodying features ofmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken in the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 33 in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a skeletonized plan view of the inside mechanism of the clock;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the clock case with the back plate andinternal mechanism of the clock removed;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal view of one of the metallic fittings of the clockcase;

Fig. 7 is a perspective drawing explanatory of the 'mode of productionof the composition end or corner pieces; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective-drawing explanatory of the'mode of production ofthe top and bottom composition laminations. Referring to the drawings,and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the clock case of my inventioncomprises top and bottom metal fittings or castings 2 and 4, a generallyrectangular metallic frame 6 received between said castings, andcomposition corner or end pieces 8 and 10 located outside of the frame 6and received between the castings 2 and 4. The clock case may be andpreferably is provided with feet 12 and 14 located at the bottom of thecase and acting as a base or foundation to add stability to the clockcase which otherwise, as will be subsequently developed, is exceedinglythin in its front to back dimension. The case is preferably furtherprovided with a top lamination 16 of composition material, theconfiguration of which may follow: that of the top casting 2. Ifdesired, still another lamination of' composition material 18 may 'beprovided at the bottom of the case between the casting 4 and the feet 12and 14.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the exposed metal parts have been leftunshaded and the composition parts are shown in solid black. Theresulting appearance is that obtained when the clock case is made withchromium plated metallic partsand black composition material. However,it should 'be'understood that the metal may be provided with any of anumber of finishes, and the composition may be obtained in white orblack or various colors and may be mottled or rippled in color so as toresemble marble, onyx,

and other natural materials. The composition is preferably an artificialproduct sold under the trade name Catalin which is desirablebecause ofthe beautiful effects and finishes obtainable, but it will be understoodthat other composition materials may be employed, and, in fact, even thenatural materials may be .used but at considerably greater cost andinconveniencej The general scheme of assemblage of the clock case may beoutlined with reference to Fig. '5 of the drawings, which is a rear Viewof the clock case with the back plate and internal mechanism removed. Inthis View the top and bottom castings 2 and 4, the front frame 6, theend pieces 8 and 10, the feet 12' and'l 4, the top composition layer 16,and the bottom composition 18 all correspond to the similarly numberedparts described in connection with Fig.1. In Fig. 5, however, it shouldbe noted that there are a pair of tie rods 40 extending vertically fromthe top :to the bottom of the case. These tie rods, as is best shown inFig. 2, extend fromthe top casting 2 through the bottom casting 4,.thecomposition layer 18, and the feet 12 and 14, and thereby hold theseelements in assembled relation, with the frame 6 and the endpieces 8 andclamped between the-top and bottom castings 2 and 4.

Considering the parts of theqclock case in greater detail, the top andbottom castings 2 and 4 are preferably made identical andinterchangeable. Referring to Fig-6, showingthe lower easting in plan,the castingconsists of a. flat, layer of metal 20 the ends of which areprovided with curved outer andinner flanges 22 and 24; The casting maybeadditionally provided with a rear flange or rail 26 adapted tosubsequently receive and support the back plate of the clock case. Theend portions 28 of the' rail 26 run directly into the curved innerflanges 24 and are preferably elevated above the top edge of theintermediate portion of rail 26, as is best shown in Fig; 5, in order toprovide ample-room for tapped holes 30 subsequently used to screw theback plate in place. The supports 28 also help keep the back plate ina-rigid'and stiffenedcondition. The front or leading-edge portion 32 ofthe casting iscut awayor depressed below the: level of the portion 20 inorder to receive and accurately seat the front frame 6 in- ;place. Inadditionto the tapped holes 30 for holding the-back plate, the castingor fitting is further provided with tapped holes 34 which receive:screws for retainingpieces or'angles 62 which in turn hold the. glass64 againstthe front frame 6 (see Figs. 2 and 3) holes 36 through whichscrews may be passed for anchoring the top compositionlam-ination 16 inplace; and holes 38 through which thepreviously mentioned upright tierods 40 are passed when looking the various composition and metal partsof the clock case in assembled relation. i In the particular form ofclock here shown, the end or corner pieces '8 and: 10 are preferablycy-- lindrical in curvature. These pieces may most expeditiouslynandeconomically be madeby first formingor molding the catalin ,or othercomposition-i material in the form of'ia complete cyl inder 42, asisindicated in Fig; 72 The outersurface of the cylinder may then betrued'to correct cylindrical shape and dimension, and may be'polishedashighly as desired. 1 Theicylinder is then cut into segments of desiredsize; In'the particu lar case here shown, each piece 8 and I0 is exactlyone-fourth of a cylinder, and'thegpieces are made byicutting thecylinder 42:. into quarters, as is=indi-.

cated by the broken lines 44 in Fig. 7. The rear edges of the materialare preferably grooved, as at 46 in Figs. 3 and 5, in order to receivethe back plate 48 of the clock case with an accurate and dust-proof fit.Similar grooves are provided on fittings 2 and 4 by a slight inwardlocation of rail 26, 28. H I

The laminations l6 and 18 of composition material are given aconfiguration similar to that of casting 4 shown in Fig. 6. To out theseout of a thin sheet of material would be costly, would result ininaccuracies of shape, and would necessitate polishing the forward orcurved edges of the layers of material, which in turn would round orotherwise mutilate the same in an unsightly manner. In accordance withmy method, a rod of Catalin or other suitable composition material ismade with a cross-section similar to the desired shape of the layers 16and 18, as will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 8 of the drawings;This rod, numbered 50, is polished on its outer surfaces and thereafteris sliced or cut into laminations, as is indicated by the broken lines52. In'the case of the lower lamination 18, only the edge of which isexposed, no further finishing processis needed. In the case of the upperlaminationlfi, the top face'of which is exposed to view, one side of thelamination is polished. The polishing operation, however, is hereapplied to a flat surface and does not tendto round or mar the cornersor edges of the piece. The pieces are provided with a number of recessesand holes to be described later. i

The front framefi is made of sheet metal and preferably comprisesa fiatcontinuous front surface heretofore designated 6, rearwardly extendingtop and bottom surfaces 54, best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,rearward-1y extending side surfaces'56; best shown in. Fig. 3, andoutwardly projecting side flanges 58, best shown. in Figs. 3 and 5 ,of.the drawings. This frame being struck from a single .piece of metal,presents 'a. perfectly {smooth and continuous outer surface withadesirable appearance, such as is indicated in Fig. 1,.v At the same timethextop and bottom surfaces 54 permit the. frame to be accuratelyreoeived. by and firmly held in place by the top and bottom castings 2and. 4. The cut-outer recessed portions 32 of the castings 2 and 4accurately receive and position the frame 6 in place. The :side surfaces56 and outwardly projecting flanges 58 serve to receive and house theforward edge of the corner pieces 8 and'lO, as is readily apparent from,an inspection of Fig. 3. The flanges 58, however, are preferablylocated to fit directly behind the forward edges of the inner flanges 24of the castings, therebyadditionally lockinggthe, frame in place. Thisconstruction is alone sufficient to hold the frame within the metalandma'y be hollow, as is shown in Fig. 2.

The top surface of each foot is bored to receive the tierod 40, as isshown inFig. 2,".andin order to properly locate and prevent turning ofthe foot; thenasting is additionally provided with upwardly extendinglugs or posts 66 which mate with holes 68 drilled in the bottom of thelower composition layer 18; The bottom edge of the foot is grooved, asat 70, to receive and support surfacing material which may be heavycardboard 72 bottomed with a layer of felt 74. The disclosedconstruction is not only economical and light, but possesses theadditional advantage of being silent and vibrationless when the clock isin operation.

To assemble the clock case as so far described, the top and bottomcastings 2 and 4 are provided with the four screws 60. The castings arethen assembled with the frame 6 and the composition pieces 8 and 10therebetween. Rods 40 are passed through the castings. Composition layer18 and feet '12 and 14 are addedat the bottom of the case, and theassemblage is bolted tightly together by means of the nuts at the endsof the tie rods 40. The glass or crystal 64 is put in place and followedby the four small angles or retaining pieces 62 whichin turn are held bythe nuts applied to bolts 60. The top composition layer 16 is recessedto clear the ends of rods 40, and is drilledand tapped with holes matingwith the holes 36 in the casting. Screws 76 are passed through thecasting 2 and threaded into composition layer 16 in order to anchor thesame in place. The feet 12 and 14 may finally be bottomed with thecardboard and felt bottom 72, 74.

The clock movement is preferably of the synchronous electrical type andis generally indicated by the letter M in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings.It is preferably mounted on and secured to the back plate 48 of theclock, which may be accomplished by means of posts 80. The dial 82 ofthe clock is in turn preferably mounted on the move-, ment M, and thismay be accomplished through the medium of posts 84. However, it isdesirable that'the face of the dial be unmarred or unblemished bysecuring means, and I therefore provide an intermediate piece of metal86 (see Figs. 2 and 4) between the movement M and the dial 82. Thisintermediate piece of metal isin the form of a broad flat U the bend ofwhich is arranged to follow the deep bend or dish of the dial 82; Thecentral or flat portion of the intermediate member 86 is secured toposts 84 by means of small screws, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawings. The intermediate member 86 and dial 82, however, are securedtogether only at their extreme edges, as is indicated at 88 in Fig. 4,the edge of the dial being slotted to receive tongues projecting fromthe edge of the member 86. This edge portion is concealed by the frontframe 6 of. the clock when the dial, is mounted in place.

Back plate 48 is made of relatively heavy sheet metal and is'providedwith holes mating with the holes 30 in castings 2 and 4. The mounting ofdial 82 on the clock movement 1M, and the mounting of the clock movementM on back plate 48, and finally the mounting of the back plate 48 onthe-clock case itself are all accurately predetermined and standardized,which results not only in the parts being interchangeable, but moreimportantly, in securing perfect centering and registration of the dial82 with relation tothe front frame 6 of the clock. The bottom edge ofback plate 48 is slotted at 90 to receive a flanged insulation bushing92 which protects the feed wires 94 for the movement M. With thisconstruction the clock movement is readily applied to the clock case, itbeing'simply necessary to put the dial and movement within the case, andthen apply the four holding screws 96.. The movement may, of course,betaken out of the case for inspection or repair, with similar facilityand ease. The oute'redges of back plate 48 are received'in grooves"provided in castings 2 and 4 and composition ends 8 and 10, wherebyinsuring a dust-proof Jfit which protects the clock movement. v

In order to economize in theuse of metal, the intermediate piece of,metal 86. is made equal to or smaller in dimension than the opening inframe 6. The piece of metal struck from frame 6 during the manufactureof the same is therefore readily used as the raw material formanufacturing intermediate holding piece 86.

It will be understood that numerous changes in design may be made, and anumber of these may be inspected by reference to my copending designapplications Serial Nos. 41,502, 41,503, and 41,504, filed October 23,1931, and since issuedon December 15, 1931, as Design Patents Nos.85,739, 85,740, and 85,741, respectively. Considering the matterbriefly, it will be obvious that the end or corner pieces 8 and 10 maybe made of-any desired configuration and may be made of a plurality ofstrips of composition material or of combinations of strips ofcomposition and ,metallic materials. Either or both of the insulationlaminations 16 and 18 may be omitted. The lower insulation lamination 18may be omitted and a stepped piece of insulation inserted between thefeet 12 and 14 and secured to casting; 4 in the same manner that the toplamination is secured to casting 2. The metal and, the composition partsmay be given dullor highly polished finishes with any preferred kind ofcontrast both as re-, gards color and finish. j

It is believed that the mode of constructing the clockcase and clock ofmy invention, and the many advantages thereof, will for the most part beapparent from the foregoing detailed description. The construction setforth permits of the use of metal and composition parts in unusualcontrasts of colorand finish; The mechanical assemblage is rugged and-strong, yet simple and composed of relatively few parts. The clockmovement and the dial are all supported from the back plateand areproperly located in the clock thereby, and are removable from the :clocktherewith. No means of attachment. mar the appearance of the dial. Themechanical features of the clock case construction may be embodied innumerous forms and shapes of clock case design.

It will therefore be apparent that while I have shown and described myinvention in preferred form,.many changes and modifications may be madein the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention, defined in the following claims.

I claim;

1. A clock case comprising top and bottom metallic fittings, a metallicframe received between said fittings, composition corner or end pieceslocated outside of said frame and received between said fittings, feetmounted at the bottom of the case, and means. securing said partstogether including a pairof tie rods extending from the topfitting-through the bottom fitting and feet.

2. A clock case comprising top and bottom metallic castings, a generallyrectangular metallic frame received between said castings, compositioncorner or end pieces located outside of saidframe and received betweensaid castings, atop lamina! tion of composition material located abovethe top casting, feet mounted at the bottom of the case, and meanssecuring said parts together including a pair of tie rods extending fromthe top casting through the bottom casting and feet.

3. A clock case comprising top and bottom metallic castings, a generallyrectangular metallic frame received between said. castings, compositioncorner or end pieces located outside of said frame and received betweensaid castings, top and bottomlaminations of composition material locatedabove and below said castings, feet mounted near the bottom compositionlamination, and means securing said composition and metal partstogether. r

4. A clock case comprising similiar top and bottom metallic castings, agenerally rectangular metallic frame received between said castings,composition corner or end pieces located outside of said frame andreceived between said castings, top and bottom laminations ofcomposition material located above and below said castings, cast metalfeet mounted near the bottom composition lamination, and means securingsaid parts together including a pair of tie rods extending from flatlayer of metal provided at its ends with outer and inner curved flangesand-at its rear with a straight flange or rail, a generally rectangularframe arranged between said castings at the forward edge thereof, cornerorend pieces located outside of said frame and between said castings,said pieces being made of composition material and being arcuatelyshaped and received between and held by the outer and inner curvedflanges of the castings, feet located at the bottom of the case, and tierods extending from-the top 'casting through the bottom casting and thefeet, in order to hold the case in assembled relation.

6. A clock case comprising top and bottom castings, a generallyrectangular frame arranged between said castings at the forward edgethereof, said frame being'made of sheet metal and comprising frontsurfaces, rearwardly extending top, bottom and side surfaces, andoutwardly extending side flanges, composition corner o-r'en'd pieceslocated between said castings and outside of the side surfaces andflanges of said frame, feet located at the bottom. of the case, and tierods extending from the top casting through the bottom casting and thefeet in order to hold the case in assembled relation.

7. A clock case comprising top and bottom castings, a generallyrectangular frame arranged between said castings at the forward edgethereof, composition corner or end pieces located Out-1 side of saidframe and between said castings, fiat laminations of compositionmaterial'm'ounted above the top and below the bottom castings, hollowcast metal feet located below the lower lamination of compositionmaterial, said feet being provided with upstanding posts mating with 1feet, in order to hold the case in assembled relation. I

8.. A clock case comprising top andbottom caste ings, each of saidcastings including avfiat "layer of metal provided at its ends withflanges; a gen! erally rectangular'frame' arrangedbetween said castingsat the'forward edge thereof, said frame being made of sheet metal andcomprising front surfaces and rearwardly extending top, bottom, and sidesurfaces, corner or end pieces located outsideof said frame and betweensaid castings, said pieces being made of composition material and beingreceived and held by the flanges of the castings, feet located at thebottom of the case, and tie rods extending from the top casting throughthe bottom casting and the feet, inorder to hold the case in assembledrelation.

9. A clock case comprising top and bottomcastings, each of said castingsincluding a flat layer of metal provided at its ends with outer andinner curved flanges, a generally rectangular frame arranged betweensaid castings at the for ward edge thereof, said frame being made ofsheet metal and comprising front surfaces and rearwardly extending top,bottom, and side surfaces, corner or end pieces located outside of saidframe and between said castings, said pieces being made of compositionmaterial and being arcuately shaped and received between and held by theouter and inner curved flanges of the castings, a flat lamination ofcomposition material mounted above said top casting, means securing thetop lamination to the top casting, feetloca'ted at the bottom of theclock, means to locate and prevent turning of the feet, and tie rodsextending from the top casting through the bottom casting and the feet,in order to hold the case in assembled relation.

10. A clock case comprising similar top and bottom castings, each ofsaid castings including a fiat layer of metal provided at its ends withouter and inner curved flanges and at its rear with a straight flange orrail for receiving a back plate, a generally rectangular frame arrangedbetween said castings at the forward edge thereof, "said frame beingmade of sheet metal and comprising front surfaces, rearwardly extendingtop, bottom, and side surfaces and outwardly extending side flanges,corner or end pieces located between said castings and outside of theside surfaces and flanges of said frame, said pieces being made ofcomposition material'and being arcuately shaped and received between andheld-by the outer and inner curved flanges of thecastings, flatlaminations of composition material mounted above the top and below thebottom castings, means securing the top lamination to the top casting,outwardly stepped hollow cast metal feet located below thelower'lamination of composition material, said feet being provided withupstanding posts mating with holes in the lower composition laminationto locate and prevent turning of the feet, and tie rods extending fromthe top casting through the bottom casting, the composition lamination,and the feet, in order to hold the case in assembled relation.

11. A clock comprising top and bottom metallic fittings, a framereceivedbetween said fittings; composition corner or end pieces locatedoutside of said frame'and received between said castings, feet mountedat the bottom of the case, means securing said composition and metallicparts together, a back plate dimensioned to be received by and to closethe back of the clock, means to detachably. secure the back plate to theclock, a clock movement secured to said back plate,fand a clock dialsecured to the opposite side of the movement, whereby the dial andmovement are affixed to and located and supported by the back plate, andare removable from the clock case with said back plate; 1

12. A clock comprising similar top and bottom metallic castings, agenerally rectangular metallic frame received between said castings,composition corner or end pieces located outside of said frame andreceived between said castings, top and bottom laminations ofcomposition material located above and below said castings, cast metalfeet mounted below the bottom composition lamination, means securingsaid parts together including a pair of tie rods extending from the topcasting through the bottom casting and feet, a back plate dimensioned tobe received by and to closethe back of the clock, means to detachablysecure the back plate to the clock, a clock movement secured to saidback plate, and a clock dial secured to the opposite side of themovement, whereby the dial is affixed to and accurately located in theframe by the back plate, and is removable from the clock case with saidback plate.

13. A clock comprising a frame for the glass or crystal, a rearwardlydished dial dimensioned to be received in back of the frame, the edgesof the dial being concealed by the frame, a clock movement, and meanssecuring said movement to said dial, including an intermediate piece ofmetal which is appropriately dished to receive the dished dial, and thecentral rearwardly dished portion of which is secured to the movementand solely the extreme forward edge portions of which are secured to themating extreme forward edges of the dial, so that no securing means arevisible when looking at the dial.

1 1. A clock comprising a front sheet metal frame for the glass orcrystal, said frame being struck from a single piece of sheet metal, arearwardly dished d a1 dimensioned to be received in back of the frame,the edges of the dial being concealed by the frame, a clock movement,and

means securing said movement to said dial, including an intermediatepiece of metal which is appropriately dished to, receive the disheddial, and the central portion of which is secured to the movement andthe extreme edge portions of which are secured to the extreme side edgesof the dial, so that no securing means are visible when looking at thedial, the said intermediate piece of metal having dimensions equal to orsmaller than the open area of the metallic frame, so that metal struckfrom the frame during its manufacture may be used for the saidintermediate piece of metal.

15. A clock comprising a front sheet metal frame for the glass orcrystal, a rearwardly dished dial dimensioned to be received in back ofthe frame, the edges of the dial being concealed by the frame, a clockmovement having a plurality of forwardly extending posts, and meanssecuring said movement to said dial, including a broad U-shaped piece ofmetal the fiat surface of which is secured to the forwardly extendingposts of the movement and the forwardly turned or flanged edges of whichare secured to the extreme side edges of the dished dial, so that nosecuring means are visible when looking at the dial.

16. A clock case comprising top and bottom metallic fittings,respectively having depending and upstanding marginal flanges, ametallic frame received between said fittings, composition corner or endpieces located outside of said frame and received and held between saidfittings within the flanges thereof, and means securing said partstogether including a pair of tie rods extending from the top fitting tothe bottom fitting.

ISIDOR DINSTMAN.

